State Asks Court to Fine Hoopeston Tire Firm

The Illinois attorney general's office is asking an eastern Illinois court to fine a tire-recycling company $100,000 over a massive fire this month at the facility.

The complaint filed in Vermilion County Court for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency also asks that J&R Used Tire Service Inc. in Hoopeston not be allowed to accept more tires until it takes steps to avoid future problems.

According to the News-Gazette in Champaign, the complaint says the business had more than 50,000 tires when the fire started June 19. It burned for days.

The complaint accuses the business of clean-air and-water violations because of pollutants released by the fire and runoff.

No one at the business answered calls seeking comment.